Beyonce Documentary Ratings Hit Decade High For HBO

First she took this year’s Super Bowl halftime show by storm and now Beyoncé has hit the high note on cable. The singer’s co-directed Beyoncé: Life Is A Dream documentary was watched by 1.8 million HBO viewers Saturday in its 9 PM premiere. That’s a 10-year audience high for a documentary on the premium network. In 2004, Nielsen changed the way it determines viewership on HBO, so prior-year comparisons are apples and oranges. The closest the cable station had to such numbers was in 2006, with the Spike Lee directed When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts. That film documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans pulled in 1.7 million viewers. Beyonce had a good night on another network also on Saturday. The singer’s 8 PM interview on Oprah’s Next Chapter pulled in 1.3 million viewers on Winfrey’s OWN

I think the comparison is apples to oranges. When The Levees broke is an ACTUAL documentary, Life is But A Dream is a hagiographic informercial but I’m not singling out B per se, it’s the current trend paved by Bieber and Perry.

OhPlease • on Feb 19, 2013 1:48 pm

I’m not surprised. She is a popular figure in entertainment, and relevant in our culture. I also thought it was well done, nice use of symbolism.

Hova Hover' • on Feb 19, 2013 1:48 pm

Such a disappointment…

This wasn’t a doc, it was a press kit. Just awful.

HW • on Feb 19, 2013 1:49 pm

Seems like a nice lady and a pretty good dancer but this “artist” has absolutely nothing interesting to say. About anything. And has no point of view. On anything other than herself.

tim • on Feb 19, 2013 10:08 pm

Yes, Beyonce’s EGO is out of control- maybe more than Madonna. At least Madonna’s documentary was more fun to watch.

m. • on Feb 19, 2013 2:24 pm

I could have seconded any of the notes I’ve read so far, but really wanted to add another number to the pile. It saddens me tremendously that this vapid, self-promotional advertisement draws more viewers than any of the highly worthwhile documentaries HBO regularly shows. I watched a reasonable portion, and couldn’t believe anyone could get excited about the film, or any of the performances within it.

Yes • on Feb 19, 2013 4:00 pm

I agree with this, but I think most people thought that it would be something more, and that’s why they watched.
If the doc was advertised as a “vapid advertisement with nothing to say,” I’m sure the numbers would reflect that to some extent.
I love watching all kinds of docs, and was looking forward to this because I thought it would reveal some depth. About 10 minutes in I realized the fraud, but kept watching anyway with hope that something might change. I didn’t. Oh well.
This was absolutely the worst “doc” I’ve ever seen, and was made about 15 years too early. Absolutely nothing happens. Beyonce is clearly such a perfectionist control freak that she actually believed that an audience seeing her with no make up on would be revealing enough.
It actually did reveal more about her character, just not what she probably intended. I love you B, but this sucked.

n. • on Feb 19, 2013 2:50 pm

You watched it, so stop complaining about its viewership. If you didn’t want it to succeed then you shouldn’t have watched it.

Alex • on Feb 19, 2013 3:23 pm

1.8 million….that’s it?

Who Asked You Anyway • on Feb 19, 2013 3:59 pm

I believe the best description of the doc and her – Vapid.

Anne • on Feb 19, 2013 4:31 pm

Love her voice! Much of the content was leaked, otherwise I would have been surprised by many things like the fact that she revealed her miscarriage and opened up about letting her father go. Anyway, as a fan I looked forward to it, watched it, and enjoyed it!

Robert Not So Wise • on Feb 19, 2013 5:31 pm

1.8 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED HER WITHOUT MAKEUP.

Well, at least it beat GIRLS in an original run.. (not counting DVRing)

-RnsW

JP • on Feb 24, 2013 3:15 am

I enjoyed it.I thought it was so sincere and Deep. For once,its not about a show, fun and vanity. Its real life,that why u don’t get to see and know everything.

serpentinefire • on Mar 16, 2013 3:24 pm

Based on what? …How did you get those numbers for something that constantly played for at least 48 hrs.if not longer ????? I would like to know how its calculated.